Video toothbrush

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a video toothbrush. An exemplary video toothbrush may include a handle housing an exciter and a support element including a support neck and a support head. The support element may be configured to extend from a proximal connection with the handle to a distal end. The video toothbrush may further include a camera mounted near the distal end of the support head and a shaft extending from the support neck and configured to support a cleaning head toward a distal end of the shaft and configured to receive vibration from the exciter toward a proximal end of the shaft. The video toothbrush may also include the cleaning head having a plurality of bristles projecting in a first direction. The cleaning head may define a central opening. The central opening may be arranged to provide the camera with a view in the first direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus, comprising:
 a handle comprising an exciter; 
 a support head extending from a proximal connection with the handle to a distal end; 
 a camera mounted on the support head near the distal end of the support head; 
 a shaft extending from the support head and configured to support a cleaning head toward a distal end of the shaft and configured to receive vibration from the exciter toward a proximal end of the shaft; and 
 the cleaning head comprising a plurality of bristles projecting in a first direction, the cleaning head defining a central opening, wherein the central opening is arranged to provide the camera with a view in the first direction, 
 wherein the shaft is configured to support the cleaning head with a first clearance between the cleaning head and the support head; and 
 wherein the support head encloses a portion of the shaft between the handle and the cleaning head, except for a second clearance. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first clearance is between 0.5 mm and 5 mm. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second clearance is between 0.5 mm and 5 mm. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning head is removably attached to the shaft. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an LED mounted on the support head and configured to illuminate a field of view of the camera. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the LED comprises a blue LED or an ultraviolet LED. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a plurality of additional LEDs are mounted within a casing of the camera and adjacent to a lens of the camera. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the camera comprises a lens that comprises an outer hydrophilic layer configured to limit fogging. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the camera comprises a macro lens or a fish-eye lens. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second camera mounted on the support head and configured to operate with the camera to provide a stereoscopic image. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the exciter comprises an electric motor. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a battery compartment configured to receive a battery and provided with electrical connections to the electric motor. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power button configured to activate the camera and the exciter. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a communication interface, wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate data between the camera and a remote device. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the data communicated includes video data and status information for the apparatus. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning head is configured to translate with respect to the camera. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning head is configured to rotate with respect to the camera. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus, comprising:
 a handle comprising an exciter; 
 a support head extending from a proximal connection with the handle to a distal end; 
 a camera mounted on the support head near the distal end of the support head; and 
 a shaft extending from the support head and configured to support a cleaning head toward a distal end of the shaft and configured to receive vibration from the exciter toward a proximal end of the shaft, wherein the shaft is configured to support the cleaning head with a first clearance between the cleaning head and the support head, 
 wherein the camera is configured to view through a central opening of the cleaning head upon installation of the cleaning head; and 
 wherein the support head encloses a portion of the shaft between the handle and the cleaning head, except for a second clearance. 
 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a light-emitting diode (LED) mounted on the support head and configured to illuminate a field of view of the camera. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the LED comprises a blue LED or an ultraviolet LED.